📆 Day 13 | 23 August

📍Route: Badacsonytomaj – Szigliget - Szigligetivár – Balatongyörök

🚴‍♀️ Distance cycled: 32 km

🏰 Places visited: Szigligeti Vár (the Castle of Szigliget)

Today’s stage of our Balaton bike tour took us from Badacsony to Balatongyörök. Our ride leader, Zsolt, decided to guide us on an alternative route instead of the official Balaton bike path. It turned out to be a road full of authentic Balatonian scenery – vineyards, small villages, and peaceful countryside views. While it was beautiful, it was also a demanding ride, and the accumulated tiredness started to weigh heavily on all of us.

At the foot of Szigligeti Vár, I had a small accident. On a gravel stretch, I wasn’t paying enough attention, and with my tiredness catching up to me, my bike slipped out from under me. I landed on my right knee and hand. Thankfully, it’s nothing serious – no big bruise – but it still hurts now.

Despite that, we visited Szigligeti Vár (the Castle of Szigliget). Built in the mid-13th century after the Mongol invasion, it was originally constructed by Benedictine monks. Over the centuries, it became an important defensive stronghold, standing proudly on its volcanic hilltop with a commanding view over Lake Balaton. Though partly in ruins today, the castle still tells the story of medieval fortifications and the region’s turbulent history.

Because of my knee, we decided to cut the day short and search for a nearby camping spot. In Balatongyörök we found Carina Camping – a modest, family-run campsite. It had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, exactly the kind of quiet place we needed to rest after such a challenging day.